bronsdon



(N0 Modl.) 3 sheetssheet 1.

E. BRONSDON.

TRUNK, PORTMANTBAU, 8w. No. 522,146. Patented June 26, 1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E.BRONSDON. TRUNK, PORTMANTEAU, &0.

o. 522,146. Patented June 26, 1894.,

(Nb M a Sheets-Sheet s. E. BRONSDON.

TRUNK, PORTMANTEAU, 8w. 7 No.'522,146. Patented June 26, 1894.

NIT S ATES PATENT Creme.

EDWARD BRONSDON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGN'OR'OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD SCALES, OF SAME PLACE. I

TRUNK, POR'T'MANTEAU, sac.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,146, dated June 26, 1894. Application filed January 3,1894. Serial No. 495,481- (No model.) Patentedin England May 28, 1892, No. 10,204.

To all whom it may concern:

l 3e it known that I, EDWARD BRONSDON', a citizen of England, residing at 5 Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, in the city of London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements Relating to Trunks, Portmanteaus, Jewel and Writing Cases, Traveling Dressing, and other Bags, which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, dated May 28, 1892, No. 10,204,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new construction of traveling and other bags, pormanteaus and the like which I term the Kentbury bag, the main feature of which is that there are pivoted to each end of the framework of the lower part of the bag, at a point preferably of the center line'therethat pass up through somewhat to one side of, metal bars or rods slots in the separate upper part or top of the bag, such top being connected on one side to the lower part of the bag by the flexible covering thereof, so that on turning the side bars upon their pivots over to the side on which the top is connected to the lower part, such top will turn over with them into a position at right angles to the closed position, thus leaving the mouth of the bag entirely open, while the interior of the top which is provided with fittings of any kind is also readily accessible. The opening movement of the topis by preference effected automatically by means of a suitable spring or springs which force it open as soon as the lock or other fastening is released. The two pivoted bars or rods either have their upper ends connected by a rigid bar that forms the handle of the bag, or they may be formed with eyes or loops to which a flexible handle is attached. Thus the advantage is gained of having the handle strongly attached to the framing of the bag instead of only to the hinged top thereof, as is usual. The loose top may be variously constructed. Thus, it may have the front side where the lock orfastening is situated formed as a hinged flap, to turn up and so leave the interior exposed on that side or preferably the top is and the Like, (for made entirely open on that side, and a flap for closing the same is hinged to the frame of the lower part of the bag and is secured to the top of the bag by a lock or other fastening. The top might also be made with all four sides closed.

In order that my said invention may be readily understood, I will describe byway of example one or two modes of constructing a bag according to the same as shown on the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a bag embodying my invention. Fig. 2is a perspective view of the bag. Fig. 3 isa similar view, showing the bag open. Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view of the modified construction, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of another modification. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view, showing a portion of the bag and a portion of the devices exhibited in Fig.

'6; and Fig. 8 is a broken perspective view,

showing another modification.

In the construction shown insection at Fig. l and in perspective views at Figs. 2 and 3, A is the framing of the lower part of the bag which may be 'of wire or band metal and which at each end is provided at B B, preferably somewhat to one side of the vertical center line, as shown, with two pivot studs to which are pivoted the lower ends of thin fiat bars or plates C C which extend up through slotted holes D in the'flat side rims of the bag and through narrow openings E in the top F of the bag, and project up beyond this when in the closed position as at Figs. 1 and 2, so as to serve for the attachment ofabar shaped handle G. I

The top F is open at the front side and is connected to the lower part of the bag at the back by the leather or other flexible covering thereof.

To the front of the bag is hinged a flap H which closes up against the top F as shown at Figs. 1 and 2, to which it is secured by alock V or other fastening.

To the frame A of the bag is secured at one end a blade spring I the free end of which bears against a ledge J on the end surface of the top F, so that when this is closed down, the spring will be in a bent position, and c011- sequently when the lock is opened, the spring will automatically throw the top open, into the position at right angles to the bag shown at Fig. 3, thus leaving the entire opening of the bag free. In this motion the bars G will also turn on theirpivots in following the top, which will slide outward upon the bars, until the further motion of thelatter is stopped by coming in contact with the ends of the slots D, or by a stop groove in the metal frame so that the top will then be held in the position at right angles as shown. The top may be provided with fittings for stationery, toilet articles or other objects, and similar fittings may be provided on the inner side of the flap H if desired. This flap instead of being hinged to the bottom part of the bag, as shown, may also be hinged to the top F so as to form the fourth side thereof, as indicated by dotted lines H at Fig. 3.

In the modification shown at Fig. 4, the side bars are replaced by rods K having eyes at their lower ends turning on the pivots B and passing up through sockets M fixed to the ends of the head. To the rods K are also fitted helical springs L through which the rods K pass, and which have their upper ends arrested by the sockets M and the lower ends by the pivots B so that as the top is closed down the sockets M compress the springs L by a telescopic action which consequently forces the top open when the bag is unlocked.

The upper ends of the rods K are formed with loops K to which are attached the ends of a flexible handle N. Instead of arranging the springs to act in compression, they may be made to act in tension, as shown at Fig. 5; for this purpose the bars 0 are made with slots into which are fitted the helical springs L the upper ends of which are fixed to the bars, while the lower ends are fixed to any convenient part F of the top F, so that when the latter is closed down, the springs L are extended, and consequently they draw the top into the open position when the bag is unlocked. The springs can be covered in by caps O fixed to the bars 0.

Figs. 6 and 7 show respectively a part longitudinal section and a perspective view of another arrangement of the bars or plates C, in which, instead of the handle G being made to extend right across the bag and fixed to the ends of the bars C, it is made of a less length and is fixed by the metal brackets G to the top framing of the bag and is provided at such brackets with sliding bolts P that, when the bag is closed are slid into a grooved head 0' formed on the end of the bar 0, the bolts being operated by hand either by a sunk stud I ason thelefthand side, or by a rounded plate P as on the right hand side of Fig. 6. With this construction the bars 0 disappear within the top of the bag on this being opened, the head 0 coming in contact with a stop at Q. The parts are otherwise constructed as previously described.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of another modification in which the bars 0 have their upper ends 0' hingejointed,and formed either with a fork as shown in full, or slotted, as shown dotted, so that when turned down as shown in full when the bagis closed, they pass over a button R, on turning which half round the bars are secured to the brackets G of the handle;

For opening the bag, the buttons R are turned in line with the slot or fork, whereupon the parts 0' can be turned up on their hinges, thus allowing the bars C to slide in the cover as this is opened.

It will be seen that with the last two described arrangements while the handle G eittends only partly across the bag, as in ordinary bags, yet it is connected rigidly with the side bars 0 by means of the brackets G and bolts or other fastening, so that the suspended weight of the bag in carrying is taken by the barsCandnotby thetop oftheframeofthebag.

It will be evident that the above described invention may be applied in a variety of mod1- fied forms to bags, trunks or portmanteaus of all kinds and shapes in which a top part is required to open clear of a lower part, the accompanying drawings being only intended as examples of such applications.

Having thus described the nature of this invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical efiectfl clan n-- 1. In a traveling receptacle, the combination of two side bars pivoted to the lower part or body of the receptacle and passing through slots in the top of the cover having a hinged connection on one side to the body, and means for supporting the receptacle from the two side bars when carrying, the side bars being made to turn on their pivots when the top is opened, substantially as described.

2. In a traveling receptacle the combination of two side bars pivoted to the lower part or body of the bag and passing through slots in the top of the cover having a hinged connection to the body, and a handle connected to the said side bars, substantially as clescribed.

3. In a traveling receptacle the combination of two side bars pivoted to the lower part or body of the receptacle and passing through slots in the top of the cover having a hinged connection to the body, a handle connected to the two side bars, and springs adapted to cause the cover to open automatically when the receptacle is unlocked, substantially as described.

4. In a traveling receptacle, the combination of two side bars pivoted to the lower part or body of the receptacle and passing two subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of through slots in the top of the cover having December, A. D. 1893.

a hinged connection on one side to the body, EDWARD BRONSDON. and open on the other side, a handle connect Witnesses: 5 ing the two side bars, springs adapted to THOMAS LAKE,

cause the cover to open automatically, and a Gracechurch 825., London. hinged flap on the body adapted to close the GERALD-L. SMITH,

open side of the cover when this is shut down. Clerk to Messrs. Abel at Imray, Consulting In testimony whereof I have signed my Engineers and Patent Agents, 28 South- 10 name to this specification, in the presence of ampton Buildings, London, W 0. 

